John Brown University has named Dr. Carla Swearingen the dean of faculty development and director of the Teaching and Learning Center.
Swearingen will assume her new role on July 1. In this newly-created position, Swearingen will oversee faculty learning opportunities and research initiatives and establish and direct the new Teaching and Learning Center, a program designed to facilitate, support and recognize best practices for academic instruction at JBU.
"As JBU enrollment has nearly tripled in the last 25 years, the increased demands for the recruitment, training and development of faculty has prompted us to consolidate our various faculty development efforts under a single dean," said Dr. Edward Ericson, vice president for academic affairs. "The search committee unanimously and enthusiastically chose Dr. Swearingen to step into this role, and we are very much looking forward to what she can help our institution accomplish in the coming years."
In addition to her role as associate professor of chemistry, Swearingen has served as the director of the SUCCESS grant from the National Science Foundation since 2010. In this role, she has managed the SUCCESS scholarship fund and developed a professional and social program for SUCCESS students that has increased first-year persistence by 24% and the expected graduation rate for science majors by 34%. Swearingen has also served as the assistant director of faculty development, offering support for JBU faculty through new faculty mentoring and peer classroom observation initiatives.
Despite the additional responsibilities and roles since coming to JBU in 2005, Swearingen has continued to teach.
"I have always considered teaching to be my primary role," Swearingen said. "It is important for someone in the field of teaching and learning to stay active in the classroom."
Swearingen will continue to teach one or two classes per year while serving JBU in this new capacity.
"I am so thankful to God and JBU for the opportunities I have been given over the last decade. I am excited to serve JBU faculty in this new way, especially in the area of teaching and learning,"
Swearingen said. "I hope that faculty see this as an investment in them not only as teachers, but as individuals."
General News on 04/01/2015